Covering songs is a great way to boost your visibility as an artist. Festive covers can offer added bonuses.

Even if your music career goal is to become a successful originals artist, it helps to cover other people’s songs. Adding your own flare while leveraging the existing popularity of established artists’ tracks can be the perfect way to widen your audience and attract more fans.

Why cover popular songs?

Covering well-loved songs isn’t just a seasonal opportunity. It’s an effective career strategy that helps independent musicians grow and connect with audiences. Cover songs resonate with listeners because they’re already familiar, making it easier to draw new fans in and showcase your unique artistry. According to insights from Hypebot, covers have proven valuable for rising artists. Here are some of the key benefits:

  • Immediate listener recognition: Cover songs have the advantage of recognition. When listeners come across a familiar song performed in a fresh way, they’re more likely to stay engaged, which can lead to followers and subscribers.
  • Showcasing your unique style: Covering a popular song lets you experiment and inject your personality into something well-known. Fans get a taste of your style and may explore your original music afterwards.
  • Exposure on streaming platforms: Covers, especially of seasonal songs, have high visibility on streaming platforms and often feature in curated playlists. Christmas covers, in particular, land on festive playlists, helping you gain traction from a broad audience base.
  • Networking and collaboration opportunities: Successful covers can attract attention from others in the industry, including other artists and potential collaborators. A popular cover can even catch the eye of influencers and labels, creating growth opportunities for your career.

Still not sold? Just look at Aussie indie band, Royel Otis. The pair went viral twice after covering popular songs by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and The Cranberries during radio station live performances. They’re now selling out shows all over the world.

Now, how about doing this at Christmas?

Why are Christmas covers so effective?

The same reasons for, and benefits of, covering popular songs apply to reimagining festive favourites. During December, the demand for holiday music surges. Christmas songs, with their nostalgic feel and timeless appeal, draw listeners across generations and geographies. By covering a Christmas classic, you position yourself to take advantage of this annual trend and get noticed by fans who might otherwise miss your music.

Music consumption across platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube experiences a marked rise over the holidays, with listeners searching specifically for seasonal playlists. A well-executed Christmas cover can attract listeners who may then become year-round fans. This is a perfect opportunity to create a connection with an audience who appreciates your unique spin on a holiday classic, while potentially setting up a reliable annual spike in streaming revenue.

How to make your Christmas covers stand out

Simply covering a Christmas song as-is doesn’t necessarily guarantee visibility and popularity. Think of how many other artists will be covering seasonal songs at this time of year. You’ve got to put in that extra creativity and effort to set it apart from the crowd.

Doing this requires a cocktail of creativity, thoughtful strategy, and personal artistry. While the original versions of these songs are deeply cherished, a fresh and innovative take can capture new audiences and leave a lasting impression. Here’s how to craft a standout Christmas cover:

Add your unique style

Infuse the song with your musical identity. Whether you’re a folk artist, a rapper, or an electronic producer, adapt the arrangement to suit your genre. For example:

  • Turn a classic carol like Silent Night into a haunting, acoustic ballad.
  • Add modern beats and synth layers to Jingle Bells for an EDM twist.
  • Reimagine O Holy Night with a soulful, jazz-inspired arrangement.

Listeners are drawn to covers that feel familiar yet offer a fresh perspective. Plus, this gives you a chance to show people what you’re all about, and distinguish yourself from the swathe of other Christmas covers clamouring for attention.

Experiment with tempo and mood

Altering the tempo or mood can completely transform a song. This can be done tastefully, but it can also create something that feels a bit silly – not always a bad thing, who said your festive cover had to be completely serious?

A traditionally upbeat tune like Frosty the Snowman could be slowed down to create an emotional, reflective version (silly). Alternatively, you could give slower songs an energetic makeover, creating a whole new feel to a familiar song.

Incorporate modern production techniques

Many of the holiday classics were written and performed a fair few decades ago. With the advancement of technology in music, modern production techniques become a valuable tool for creatively covering old Christmas songs. You can play around with instrumentation, and use plug-ins to transform the sound completely.

Highlight your vocal or instrumental strengths

Play to your strengths as an artist. If you’re known for powerful vocals, let them shine in an emotionally charged performance of the cover of your choice. If you’re a skilled guitarist or pianist, create a stripped-down version of a song that showcases your musicianship. Rearranging a song to show off your ability demonstrates the thought that’s gone into the cover, giving it the edge over artists who just cover songs as they are.

Collaborate with other artists

Collaboration is a fantastic way to make your cover unique. Pairing with another artist can bring contrasting styles together to create something extraordinary. For example, blend an indie sound with hip-hop elements for an unconventional take on a classic tune. Taking this approach also enables you to reach two audiences – your own fan base and that of the artist you’re collaborating with.

Consider the visuals

Don’t just focus on the music and forget about everything else. To really help your cover stand out, consider the visual aspects. This could be the cover art, or even a music video. Incorporating classic festive themes – think fairy lights, snow, cosy fires – will capture the holiday mood, but adding your own personal style will create something unique that people may not have seen before. We all know how predictable holiday-themed music and creations can be, so anything to avoid this is good.

Paying attention to visual elements is perfect for sharing on social media. If you want people to listen to your cover, sharing it on the socials is key. As these are mostly visual platforms, this isn’t a step you’ll want to skip.

Keep it true to the holiday spirit

While originality is key, it’s also essential to retain the spirit of the season. Listeners turn to Christmas music for warmth, nostalgia, and festive joy. Ensure your version showcases your individuality while holding on to the comfiness, familiarity, and fun of seasonal songs.

Feeling festive? Share your holiday covers with RouteNote

Covering Christmas songs is more than just a seasonal trend – it’s a strategic career move. By preparing and releasing your festive cover in time for RouteNote’s 28th November deadline, you’re giving yourself a chance to reach new fans, expand your network, and potentially see increased revenue from streams.

Whether you’re looking to boost your fan base, showcase your style, or explore a new revenue stream, a Christmas cover could be the gift that keeps on giving.

Win a pair of wireless earbuds with your cover

Win a free pair of wireless earbuds!

Want to win a pair of Edifier NeoDots earbuds worth $129.99?

Upload your Christmas cover to your RouteNote account and send us a DM with your UPC once it’s approved and live on stores. Already have a Christmas cover on stores? You’re one step ahead! The winning track will be shared across our social media pages, and you’ll win a pair of Edifier NeoDots earbuds.

Entry deadline is 20/12/24. The winner will be announced Monday the 23rd of December 2024.